The Molina brothers own a piece of World Series baseball history

Yadier, Bengie and Jose Molina here playing softball events

Published: Friday, December 7, 2012 at 9:54 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, December 7, 2012 at 9:54 p.m.

DAYTONA BEACH – Baseball is a game of brotherly glove for Bengie, Jose and Yadier Molina.

Superior catching ability is something all three brothers had in common, but it's far from the only thing.

The Molinas are baseball royalty.

Or at least they should be considered so.

Think about how difficult it is to become a Major League Baseball player.

Now think about the odds of that happening three times over in one family.

And consider further the fact that each brother has at least one World Series ring. No trio of brothers had ever done that before, and frankly, that isn't likely to happen again.

“I can assure you that it's really amazing,” Bengie, the 38-year-old retired catcher, said when pressed about how it feels to be part of such an unlikely feat.

“We may not talk about it now, because Yadi and Jose are still playing, but when we retire and we hang out at home, play our dominoes together and have a beer or so, we'll treasure it.”

The Molinas also treasure their time together. With Bengie living in Phoenix, Yadi in Jupiter (near the Cardinals' spring training home) and Jose in Puerto Rico – and the latter two Molinas still playing in the majors – it's rare for the three of them to be together.

So this weekend's charity softball events – a home run derby Friday night and softball game on Saturday afternoon -- at Jackie Robinson Ballpark are part family reunion for the Molinas and fundraiser for Yadier's charitable Foundation 4.

Yadier, 30, is the youngest and most accomplished of the trio. Even Bengie and Jose acknowledge that.

“We never talk about (who's the best player),” Bengie said, “but obviously, me and Jose believe that Yadi is the best player. We saw that when Yadi was 14. We agree on that.”

The funny thing is, when Yadi was a young high school player he visited Daytona Beach when Jose was with the Daytona Cubs in the mid-1990s. Yadi was a bat boy for an American Legion team out of Bayamon, P.R.

“I was watching Jose, and I remember thinking, ‘Wow! I want to do that,' ” Yadi recalled.

The St. Louis Cardinals' catcher now has five Gold Gloves, one major league defensive player of the year award, four all-star game appearances and two World Series rings (2011 and 2006 with the Cardinals), not to mention a 10-year, $96.5 million contract that runs through 2017.

“We always tried to be an example for Yadi, and he got it pretty good,” said Bengie, who won two Gold Gloves and a World Series with the Los Angeles Angels.

Jose, 37, has been in the majors since 1999. He's got two World Series rings (2002 with the Angels and 2009 with the Yankees), and recently signed a two-year contract to stay with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Being back at the Jack, and getting a friendly welcome from some D-Cubs fans, brought back some memories for Jose.

“It's awesome to be back where I played in the minors,” said Jose, who was on Daytona's first championship team in 1995. “We won here, and that makes it special.”

Jose also will forever be a part of baseball history as he was the last player to homer in Yankee Stadium before it was demolished in 2010.

When it came to belting home runs at the Jack Friday night, Yadier was the only Molina to advance out of the first round of the home run derby.

Yet one more competition the younger Molina excels at in the family. He even is the better dominoes player of the three.

But Yadier, the fourth-place finisher in National League MVP voting last season, doesn't rub it in with his brothers. In fact, he's extremely modest, even when it comes to his many honors, including this week's Greatness in Baseball Yearly Award for major league defensive player of the year.

“My award is their award, and their awards are my awards,” Yadier said. “That's the way we are. We're brothers.”

<p>DAYTONA BEACH – Baseball is a game of brotherly glove for Bengie, Jose and Yadier Molina.<ep></p><p>Superior catching ability is something all three brothers had in common, but it's far from the only thing.<ep></p><p>The Molinas are baseball royalty.<ep></p><p>Or at least they should be considered so.<ep></p><p>Think about how difficult it is to become a Major League Baseball player.<ep></p><p>Now think about the odds of that happening three times over in one family.<ep></p><p>And consider further the fact that each brother has at least one World Series ring. No trio of brothers had ever done that before, and frankly, that isn't likely to happen again.<ep></p><p>“I can assure you that it's really amazing,” Bengie, the 38-year-old retired catcher, said when pressed about how it feels to be part of such an unlikely feat.<ep></p><p>“We may not talk about it now, because Yadi and Jose are still playing, but when we retire and we hang out at home, play our dominoes together and have a beer or so, we'll treasure it.”</p><p>The Molinas also treasure their time together. With Bengie living in Phoenix, Yadi in Jupiter (near the Cardinals' spring training home) and Jose in Puerto Rico – and the latter two Molinas still playing in the majors – it's rare for the three of them to be together.<ep></p><p>So this weekend's charity softball events – a home run derby Friday night and softball game on Saturday afternoon -- at Jackie Robinson Ballpark are part family reunion for the Molinas and fundraiser for Yadier's charitable Foundation 4.<ep></p><p>Yadier, 30, is the youngest and most accomplished of the trio. Even Bengie and Jose acknowledge that.<ep></p><p>“We never talk about (who's the best player),” Bengie said, “but obviously, me and Jose believe that Yadi is the best player. We saw that when Yadi was 14. We agree on that.”<ep></p><p>The funny thing is, when Yadi was a young high school player he visited Daytona Beach when Jose was with the Daytona Cubs in the mid-1990s. Yadi was a bat boy for an American Legion team out of Bayamon, P.R.<ep></p><p>“I was watching Jose, and I remember thinking, 'Wow! I want to do that,' ” Yadi recalled.<ep></p><p>The St. Louis Cardinals' catcher now has five Gold Gloves, one major league defensive player of the year award, four all-star game appearances and two World Series rings (2011 and 2006 with the Cardinals), not to mention a 10-year, $96.5 million contract that runs through 2017.<ep></p><p>“We always tried to be an example for Yadi, and he got it pretty good,” said Bengie, who won two Gold Gloves and a World Series with the Los Angeles Angels.<ep></p><p>Jose, 37, has been in the majors since 1999. He's got two World Series rings (2002 with the Angels and 2009 with the Yankees), and recently signed a two-year contract to stay with the Tampa Bay Rays.<ep></p><p>Being back at the Jack, and getting a friendly welcome from some D-Cubs fans, brought back some memories for Jose.<ep></p><p>“It's awesome to be back where I played in the minors,” said Jose, who was on Daytona's first championship team in 1995. “We won here, and that makes it special.”<ep></p><p>Jose also will forever be a part of baseball history as he was the last player to homer in Yankee Stadium before it was demolished in 2010.<ep></p><p>When it came to belting home runs at the Jack Friday night, Yadier was the only Molina to advance out of the first round of the home run derby.<ep></p><p>Yet one more competition the younger Molina excels at in the family. He even is the better dominoes player of the three.<ep></p><p>But Yadier, the fourth-place finisher in National League MVP voting last season, doesn't rub it in with his brothers. In fact, he's extremely modest, even when it comes to his many honors, including this week's Greatness in Baseball Yearly Award for major league defensive player of the year.<ep></p><p>“My award is their award, and their awards are my awards,” Yadier said. “That's the way we are. We're brothers.”<ep></p>